Redfern Convenience Store Archives

Owner of Redfern Convenience Store Releases Hit Song Celebrating Store’s Legacy

The owner of “the greatest convenience store in Sydney,” Hazem Sedda, has made a bold move that has left customers raving about his establishment in Redfern.

Known for its selection of rare and limited edition snacks and beverages, the Redfern Convenience Store has become an icon. Now, the store’s legacy has been immortalized in a new song titled “The Greatest Convenience Store on Earth,” which was released on Spotify last Friday.

The 3-minute and 56-second electronic pop bop, composed and performed by Mr Sedda, has garnered instant success and admiration from customers. Mr Sedda, who has gained Instagram fame for his infectious personality and boundless positivity, expressed his joy over the song’s reception.

“Since we started playing the song last Friday, customers have walked in and used their phones to Shazam the song,” he said. “The smile and the reaction when people start dancing to it – it makes me so happy.”

The lyrics of the song pay homage to the store’s meticulously curated product list, which includes cult American candies, cereals, and nearly a dozen varieties of Cheetos. Redfern Convenience Store has been a pillar of the community since its establishment in 2001 by Sedda’s father, Ali Ata, who immigrated to Sydney from Palestine. The store has never missed a day of trade throughout its 22-year legacy, a testament to the dedication and hard work of the Sedda family.

The Redfern Convenience Store has not only earned a loyal customer base but has also become a beloved fixture in the local community. Mr Sedda has witnessed customers grow up, move away, and return to visit both him and the store. It has become a tourist attraction, drawing visitors from both within and outside of Redfern.

The store has even hosted birthday celebrations for some of its patrons. He attributes the store’s success to his strong customer relationships, convenient opening hours, the store’s appearance, and friendly customer service.

The popularity of Redfern Convenience Store received a significant boost when Sedda’s close friend, radio host Ben Fordham of 2GB, encouraged him to create an Instagram page in 2015. Since then, the store’s Instagram account has garnered thousands of followers, including notable figures like Annabelle Crabb of the ABC, American singer Slayyyter, and Australian DJ duo Peking Duk.

Mr Sedda regularly features “customer of the day” posts on the account, showcasing happy shoppers with their unique and delightful purchases. The Instagram page has not only increased the store’s local profile but has also allowed Sedda to launch an online shop and expand the business further.

“I’m really proud of what I’ve achieved,” Hazem said. “I’ve changed something from a corner store to a destination for people that travel to Australia, not just the local Redfern people.”

“It’s become an icon of Redfern and it makes me really happy to think of creative ideas to keep people happy.”

@redfern_convenience_stor Hello everyone, we created a song for our customers to enjoy their time in the store while they are shopping 🛒. To make a smile on their faces and to give our customers a different experience than anywhere else on the world. It was unbelievable to hear my mate @benfordham9 announcing our Redfern Convenience Store song 🎵 not only on his instagram account, not only to his work colleagues, he announced to all the people in Australia via the number one radio station @2gb873 !!!YES it is available now on Spotify .. we hope that our song will make a bigger smile on your faces . Hazem Sedda . #redfern #redfernconveniencestore #redfernnow #redfernhood #redfernlyf #redfernsydney #dreamcometrue #dream #food #foodlover #foodie #foodies #bestfood #friend #like4like #hazemisalegend #walloffame #follwer #follwers #customers # customer #2gb873 #radio #song #spotify ♬ original sound – Redfern Convenience Store

Follow Redfern Convenience Store on Facebook.

Published 29-June-2023

Convenience Store, Delivery App Make RAT Kits More Accessible to Redfern Locals

Photo credit: Redfern convenience store / FACEBOOK

A convenience store and a grocery delivery service app have made COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Test kits more accessible to Redfern locals.

With rapid antigen test (RAT) kits in short supply, Redfern Convenience Store and grocery delivery app SEND have come to the rescue by providing a convenient way to access this highly in-demand commodity.

Redfern Convenience Store began selling rapid antigen test kits on 13 January and despite limiting an individual’s allowed purchase to a maximum of two boxes, the test kits sold out very quickly. But fret not; the store already replenished their stock with the fresh arrival of RAT tests.

Photo credit: Redfern convenience store / Instagram

On 18 January 2022, they announced that rapid antigen tests have arrived and customers who have pre-ordered online need not wait for notification as they can personally pick up their orders at the store. However, those who prefer to have the kits delivered to them can expect their orders to arrive soon.

“When I realised there was a shortage of the rapid antigen tests, I had to step in and help out our community,” shop owner, Hazem Sedda. said in their social media post.

“Throughout my 20 years in this store we have seen many high demand products including toilet paper and hand sanitizer earlier in the pandemic and we were successful in securing them for our customers. It always makes me feel proud and happy when I see the smiles of our customers when they get the products that they need and they can’t find anywhere else.”

The next shipment of RAT kits is expected to arrive on 25 or 26 January 2022. To pre-order a rapid antigen testing kit, click this link.

Grocery delivery app, SEND, is also stocking RAT kits to serve as another option to those having difficulty finding self-test kits to buy. Customers can order a two-pack rapid antigen test kit for $21 through the SEND app and have them delivered to their doorstep in 10 minutes for a delivery fee of $3.

SEND has dark warehouses across Sydney and Melbourne, allowing them to store items and produce for faster packing and delivery. In Sydney, SEND has dark stores servicing Redfern and nearby suburbs Alexandria, Annandale, Darlinghurst, Eveleigh, Newtown, Paddington, Waterloo and parts of Glebe.
SEND is available to download on Google Play and the App Store.

The Redfern ‘Tourist Spot’ Locals Can’t Live Without

Need anything but can’t find it anywhere else? In Redfern, locals know just who or where to ask. At the corner of Redfern and George Street is the world-famous Redfern Convenience Store, a nondescript and typical corner shop that’s now a “tourist spot.”

Owned and managed by Hazem Sedda, who inherited the Redfern Convenience Store from his father at the age of 19, the site has flourished into a treasure trove locals can’t live without.

From its inception in 2000, the corner shop stood out and thrived — when other convenience stores closed — because it had products big stores don’t sell and items locals thought they didn’t need but actually do.

Hazem continued what his father built and kept stocking the shelves with imported products. Slowly but surely, the store became the dependable provider for grocery items from overseas. Customers would drop in or text Hazem for their unusual orders.

“Not many people understand the hard work I put into my job,” the shop owner, who immigrated from Pakistan, Hazem wrote on his website. “From always rearranging shelves and making sure I’ve got the best stock and always stocked up making sure everything is perfect.

“I’m always cleaning and making sure everything is tidy to create a great appearance. I always try to make sure that my store is very convenient to my customers, therefore, making sure I’ve got exactly what they need.”

The idea to leverage social media to market Redfern Convenience Store’s unique range of items and top-notch service came from Hazem’s friend, 2GB radio host Ben Fordham. But the store’s Instagram account blew up after Hazem thought to feature the shoppers, not just the products.

After launching his Customer of the Day photos, the community corner shop’s Instagram followers ballooned to 12,000 in 2018, enticing people to actually visit the store on their trip to Sydney.

Currently, Redfern Convenience Store has over 25,000 followers.

“I have a large amount of followers of people from all over Australia who also come to visit us to meet me and so I can take their photo in order to become customer of the day. It’s one of the greatest trends we have on the account,”

The shop’s popularity also became the iconic location for E for Echo’s music video for the track “How to Win.”

Hazem earned even more followers, as well as admiration from the public, when shoppers were in a state of panic over toilet paper supplies during the first week of the pandemic.

Redfern Convenience Store posted a clever pricing scheme.

“At Redfern Convenience Store we are one community,” Hazem said. “We look after each other and look out for one other. We are here for you. We will keep supporting and providing you with your needs as much as we can.”

And this is why Hazem and his store are indispensable to Redfern community and loved by people from out of town.